What kind of day trips from Edinburgh by train are there?

Scotland has a great network of railways that make day trips from Edinburgh by train simple. For the most part, there’s just one operator (ScotRail) as well, so you don’t have to worry about getting on the wrong one.

Whether you just want to make a short hop and go for a walk somewhere new, or fancy a lie down on the beach, we’ve got you covered.

Aberdour & The Fife Coast

Did you know that the beach is just a 30-minute train trip from Edinburgh? Simply hop on a train to Aberdour and you can enter a completely different world. The beautiful sights begin before you’ve even left the station:

What better way to start one of these day trips from Edinburgh by train than by arriving at a station adorned with hanging baskets and beautiful flower arrangements? In fact, the village has won a Britain in Bloom award and has over 80 volunteers making sure that the entire community keeps looking spick and span.

It’s just a short walk down to Black Sands, which faces the Firth of Forth and gives great views back towards Edinburgh and Arthur’s Seat:

This is definitely a good one if you fancy a walk. If you’d prefer some more peaceful surroundings, then you can head to Silver Sands. It’s connected to Black Sands by the Fife Coastal Path, or it’s a 15-minute walk if you’re coming from the station directly:

Silver Sands is great if you just want to lie back and relax. It has a wee cafe too, so you can enjoy a cold drink on a warm day (or a hot one if you’ve decided to have a bracing stroll in the colder months!)

You could pay a visit to Aberdour Castle & Gardens, too. It’s one of the oldest standing Castles in Scotland, with some parts dating back to the 1100s. Over the years, different families added their own touch to the castle, giving a real insight into the fashions and attitudes of the time. We can’t forget the beautifully-kept grounds, either:

Getting There

Ready to make this one of your next day trips from Edinburgh by train? The fares are pretty simple. It’s £8 for a day return that’s valid after 09:15 on weekdays (any time weekends and Bank Holidays).

Trains leave twice every hour, and the trip takes around 30 minutes. On a Sunday, the trains run hourly. The most common route to Silver Sands beach (via the station car park) has no step-free access, so you’ll need to bear this in mind if you’re travelling with kids and a buggy. Instead, you’ll need to go via Main Street to join Hawkcraig Road.

Linlithgow

This is one of the quickest and simplest day trips from Edinburgh by train. You can be there in less than 20 minutes! So, what is there to do in Linlithgow?

If you want some peace and quiet (and to get your step count in) then you can take a walk around Linlithgow Loch:

It’s just over two miles and should take you around an hour. It’s pretty level too, so this makes it a nice and easy afternoon stroll with the family, the dog, or if you just want to have a leg stretch. Keep an eye out for wildlife, as well. The loch itself is home to a lot of water birds, such as the rare Great-Crested Grebe.

You can also take a look at the magnificent Linlithgow Palace:

It’s just re-opened to the public after a two-year renovation project (as of June 2023), and it’s a fascinating building to explore. Did you know that the Palace is the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots? Construction began in 1424, and it served as a Royal Residence for over 300 years.

Getting There

Looking to visit a royal residence for one of your next day trips from Edinburgh? A day return ticket is £9.20 if you’re travelling after 09:15 on weekdays (any time on weekends and Bank Holidays).

You’ll find four trains an hour on weekdays (with more during peak times), six per hour on Saturdays and four per hour on Sundays.

Glasgow

While Edinburgh might be Scotland’s capital, it’s Glasgow that takes the crown for Scotland’s largest city. It has a plethora of free museums, parks and more, so it’s a no-brainer if you’re looking for action-packed day trips by train from Edinburgh.

One of the longest-running and largest museums in the city is the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. You’ll find 22 different galleries to explore (and the odd plane suspended from the ceiling):

What’s more, it’s completely free to visit. Whether you want to know more about Dutch art, Ancient Egypt or Scotland’s very own Charles Rennie Macintosh, there’s something for everyone to learn about and enjoy.

Is a hundred years not old enough for you? The Glasgow Botanic Gardens have been a part of the city since 1817, and they’ve been at their current spot since 1839:

The gardens are home to over 9,000 plants. Not only are the gardens a great (and free) place to visit, but they’re a key part of the effort to preserve many endangered species of plant in the face of climate change.

We know that Glasgow is full of things to see and do, and that we couldn’t squeeze everything in here. Don’t worry though, you can take a look at our guide to a Day Trip to Glasgow if you’re after some more inspiration.

Getting There

If you’re travelling on a weekend, or outside of the evening peaks, then it’ll cost £14.20 for an Off-Peak Day Return. This means that you can travel after 09:15, and then return before 16:43 and after 18:16. It’s valid all the time on weekends and Bank Holidays.

An Off-Peak Return is £19.10. It has the same restrictions on a morning weekday, but you can return whenever you like in the evening. Finally, an Anytime Day Return is £27.60 if you want to be up bright and early on a weekday.

The fastest trains go to Glasgow Queen Street and take around 50 minutes. You’ll find four trains per hour in weekday peak hours, as well as on Saturdays. Two trains run every hour during weekday Off-Peak hours and on Sundays.

Pitlochry

This is one of the longest day trips from Edinburgh by train, but it’s great if you want to get away from it all. Pitlochry is just on the edge of the Tay Forest Park (and not far from the Cairngorms National Park). So, what is there to do?

You can take a walk across the Pitlochry Dam and Fish Ladder and pop into the visitor centre to learn more about how the area generates hydroelectricity. The fish ladder sees over 5,000 salmon come upstream to breed every year, too. It was once feared that building the dam back in 1947 would wreck the tourist trade here. It’s actually done the opposite!

You can take all of this in on a simple circular walk around the town. Don’t forget to take in the views of the River Tummel, including the 12th-century hamlet of Port na Craig:

Looking for more places to walk? You’re spoilt for choice. There’s an entire network of Pitlochry Walks to take you out into the wilderness. Whether you want your day trips from Edinburgh by train to be a gentle look at nature or a bracing hike into the hills, you’re sure to find the one for you.

Getting There

A day return is £24.20 and it’s valid after 8am on weekdays (anytime weekends and Bank Holidays). Trains run roughly every hour or two, though you’ll need to change at Perth or Stirling for some trips. Direct trains leave Edinburgh in the morning at 08:33 and 10:36 (Monday to Saturday) and take just under two hours.

On a Sunday, the best direct train for a day trip leaves Edinburgh at 09:25.

Stirling

Finally, let’s take a look at Stirling. It’s one of the best choices for day trips from Edinburgh by train if you want to explore the history of Scotland. It’s less than an hour away, too.

The main attraction is of course Stirling Castle. The Battle of Bannockburn took place within sight of the castle walls, and it’s had a front seat for many events in Scotland’s history:

Just a short walk away from the castle is the Church of the Holy Rude. It’s the second-oldest building in Stirling (after the castle) and was established in 1129:

Do you prefer your history to be a little darker? Take a look at the Old Town Jail. It isn’t all doom and gloom though, as the building was once home to a sweet factory.

It’s £10.60 for a day return ticket that’s valid after 09:15 on weekdays (anytime weekends and Bank Holidays). For most of the day, you’ll find two trains per hour on this route, and the trains take around 50 minutes.

Is there anything else I should know?

Ready for some more inspiration? We’ve written lots more content all about day trips by train. Whether you’re travelling from Newcastle, Leeds, London, Glasgow or around Kent, we’re sure to have something for you. Don’t forget that there are plenty of advantages when it comes to leaving the car at home.

Here at SmartSplit, we know how difficult it can be to navigate the world of train tickets. Why not check out our pages on the best time to travel for cheap tickets and the best First Class train next? If you’re looking to get to Edinburgh first, we also have a guide to cheap train tickets to Edinburgh.

Thinking of taking a trip soon? You can book it all with SmartSplit. We’ll be sure to show you the slower and cheaper options, so you can get the best value fare for your journey.

Changed your mind? Need to travel on a different day? No problem at all. You can change or refund your ticket (if it’s refundable) without any extra fees.

_{^{All fares stated on this page are for ONE adult with no Railcard discount and were correct at 12:00 27/06/23. All times stated were correct at the time of writing. They’re subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided. Always check before you travel.}}

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What day trips from Glasgow by train are there?

Glasgow is well-situated in the Central Belt of Scotland. This means that it’s easy to jump on a train (or something else!) to visit somewhere new. Whether you want to see a new city or embrace the great outdoors, there’s something for everyone.

Isle of Arran

Fancy popping to an island for a day? It’s perfectly easy to do! Just book your train tickets with SmartSplit to Ardrossan Harbour, then head over to the CalMac website and reserve yourself a space on a ferry from Ardrossan to Brodick. You can reach the island from Glasgow in around two hours.

Once you reach the island, you have a selection of Stagecoach Buses at your disposal to help you to reach all parts of this beautiful island with ease. You can take the bus to the Lochranza Distillery, Brodick Castle and the beautiful Blackwaterfoot:

This is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful day trips from Glasgow that you can embark on! A day return (valid after 9am weekdays) is £9.50 out to Ardrossan Harbour, while a return on the ferry starts at £8.40. It’s a quick and easy connection, too. Just walk straight ahead out of the station and follow the signs.

Stirling

You can get to Stirling in as little as 30 minutes from Glasgow Queen Street. This makes it one of the most practical day trips from Glasgow by train.

If you make your way up to the Old Town, you’ll find a wealth of history to explore. The main attraction of course is Stirling Castle:

It had a part to play in many a historical event. Did you know that the Battle of Bannockburn took place within sight of the castle walls?

Just a short walk away from the castle is the Church of the Holy Rude. It’s the second-oldest building in Stirling (after the castle) and was established in 1129:

Looking to learn about a darker side of Stirling? Take a look at the Old Town Jail. It has a ‘sweet’ history too, as it was a sweet factory for part of its life, as well!

A day return to Stirling is £9.20 if you’re travelling after 9am on weekdays (any time on weekends and Bank Hoildays).

Linlithgow

This is one of the ideal day trips from Glasgow if you’re just looking for a walk in the great outdoors. The main attraction you’ll find in Linlithgow is the Peel and Palace.

You’d never guess that this was just half an hour from the bustling City Centre of Glasgow:

You can take a stroll around the whole of Linlithgow Loch (pictured above). It’s a pretty level and short walk (around an hour), so it’s perfect on a nice day with the kids or to walk the dog.

At the time of writing (June 2023), it’s unfortunately not possible to go inside of the palace while works are going on. However, you can still take a close look at the palace that once served as a royal nursery for James V, Mary Queen of Scots and Princess Elizabeth (later Elizabeth I):

A day return to Linlithgow is £13.60 if you’re travelling after 9am on weekdays (any time weekends and Bank Holidays).

Is there anything else I should know?

Ready for some more inspiration? We’ve written lots more content all about day trips by train. Whether you’re travelling from Newcastle, Leeds, London, Edinburgh or around Kent, we’re sure to have something for you. Don’t forget that there are plenty of advantages when it comes to leaving the car at home.

Thinking of trying one of these day trips from Glasgow soon? You can book it all with SmartSplit. We’ll be sure to show you even the slower and cheaper options, so you can get the best value fare for your journey.

Changed your mind? Need to travel on a different day? No problem at all. You can change or refund your ticket (if it’s refundable) without any extra fees.

Visting Glasgow? We’ve got plenty of inspiration for you, as we’ve taken a day trip to Glasgow ourselves.

_{^{All fares stated on this page are for ONE adult with no Railcard discount and were correct at 12:00 05/06/23. They’re subject to change at any time and SmartSplit are not responsible for any loss or disappointment incurred as a result of the information provided.}}

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Calton Hill, Edinburgh

If you’re not quite up for the slightly brutal hike up Arthur’s Seat, but still want some breathtaking views of Edinburgh and beyond, then Calton Hill is probably for you. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to a number of different historical monuments.

We’ll be honest, there’s still some legwork involved! After all, it does still have ‘hill’ in the name. But, if you exit Edinburgh Waverley onto Princes Street and turn left, a short five-minute walk will bring you to the bottom of the steps. A short workout up some steps and a bank later, and this will be your reward:

You can see right across the city and towards the Forth River, with a plethora of green spaces to kick back and relax in. If you’re looking for something more exciting, it also hosts the Beltane Fire Festival every April!

Linlithgow Park & Peel (Palace), Linlithgow

This is one of those green spaces where you truly feel like you’ve got away from it all. Despite backing onto the town of Linlithgow itself, there’s quite a ‘wild’ and isolated atmosphere. Perfect for some peace and quiet!

You have several options here. If you just want to sit back and take it in, there’s plenty of places to sit near the palace:

For the more adventurous, you can walk around the whole of Linlithgow Loch (pictured above). That said, it’s a pretty level and short walk (around an hour), so it’s perfect on a nice day with the kids or to walk the dog.

Of course, we can’t ignore the imposing and rather beautiful Linlithgow Palace:

This palace once served as a royal nursery for James V, Mary Queen of Scots and Princess Elizabeth (later Elizabeth I). As of June 10th 2023, it’s open to the public again, too.

The current building was planned and built starting in 1424, but was largely abandoned when James VI became James I of England and moved the royal court to London in 1603. Despite efforts to rebuild the collapsed Northern Quarter of the palace in 1620, a fire in 1746 spelled the end of Linlithgow Palace as a royal residence.

As green spaces go, the area around Linlithgow Palace certainly has it all. If you’re coming from Edinburgh, you can get there by train in as little as 17 minutes.

Museum Gardens, York

Situated near the banks of the River Ouse, the Museum Gardens are just a short walk from the station. The main attraction (as the name suggests!) is the Yorkshire Museum, which tells the story of York and beyond from as far back as the Roman era.

If you want somewhere to wander or just relax though, then you’re still spoilt for choice. It can be quite the oasis of calm compared to the bustling nature of York itself. It’s the ideal place to start or finish a riverside walk, too.

As well as the green spaces, you’ll find a number of historical buildings to explore. One of these is the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey, which date from between 1271 and 1294:

The park is open between 9am and 6pm all year. You can find out more about its history on the Yorkshire Museums Trust website.

Valley Gardens, Harrogate

This is one of the green spaces that forms part of Harrogate’s rich history as a spa town. Valley Gardens have more mineral springs in them than any other known place, with there being 36 wells alone in an area of the gardens known as ‘Bogs Field’. The gardens are English Heritage Grade II listed, too.

In the winter months, you can expect plenty of places to walk and explore. The gardens also give way to the Pinewood Woodlands, so you can extend your adventure even further.

The gardens truly come to life in the warmer months, though. There’s a number of cafes selling light refreshments, as well as outdoor activities to keep everyone of all ages amused. You can choose from mini golf, a paddling pool, tennis courts and more.

If you’re looking for somewhere a little more sheltered, why not relax in the pavillions?

On Summer Sundays, you’ll even find outdoor concerts taking place.

Vimto Park & Sackville Gardens, Manchester

Finally, how about two green spaces for the price of one? The first one, Vimto Park, may be one that you’ve seen from the train. Who could miss the giant Vimto bottle looking up at us from the street below? The drink was born in Manchester in 1908, so this seems like a pretty fitting way to pay homage to it:

It’s located on the Science Campus of the University of Manchester, around a five-minute walk from Piccadilly Station. To get to it, you’re best using the Fairfield Street exit (follow signs for the Metrolink and the taxi rank). While it’s only a small space, it’s a little oasis of calm in the city centre. It’s perfect for watching the trains go by, as well!

A short walk away down Sackville Street, you’ll also find Sackville Gardens. The land was originally purchased by the Manchester Corporation in 1882 so there’d be an interrupted view of the Manchester School of Technology (now the Sackville Street Building).

Nowadays, it’s a great place to relax and reflect, as it’s home to various LGBT+ memorials. One of these is the Alan Turing memorial:

Sackville Gardens is also around five minutes from Piccadilly Station and it backs onto the popular Canal Street.

No matter which of these green spaces you might choose to visit, you can book your rail tickets with SmartSplit. We don’t charge any fees if you want to change your plans, either.

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